US3869020A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cushioned vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-07-12
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1993-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An air cushioned vehicle includes a control system for permitting the vehicle to move sidewards and rearwards and for accurately steering the vehicle during these movements. The control system also permits the vehicle to hover and have full control while the vehicle is under full power. An air stream produced by a power plant mounted on the vehicle body is directed substantially downward to provide lift and substantially horizontally to provide propulsion and steering thrust. Forward and aft vanes are connected to the control system and can be manipulated to deflect the air stream to move the vehicle sidewards. Side vanes are connected to the control system and can be manipulated to deflect the air stream to move and steer the vehicle in the rearward direction and to permit the vehicle to hover while the airstream power plant is under full power.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas W Holland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/14; B60V1/15; B60V1/04; B60V1/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
354 words
An air cushioned vehicle comprising: a body member; a power plant mounted to said body member capable of producing an air stream; means for directing a first portion of the air stream in a substantially downward direction to elevate said body member; conduit means, carried by said body member, for conducting a second portion of the air stream in a substantially horizontal rearward direction, said conduit means having an inlet for directly receiving the second portion of the air stream produced by said power plant, said conduit means additionally having an outlet enabling the air stream entering said inlet to pass through said conduit means and then to exhaust through said outlet to the atmosphere in a substantially rearward direction to propel said body member forward; air stream deflecting means, pivotally coupled to said body member between said inlet and outlet of said conduit means, for deflecting the second portion of the air stream in a substantially horizontal forward direction and to the atmosphere; control means, coupled to said body member, for manipulating said air stream deflecting means to a first position wherein none of the air stream is deflected so the vehicle moves forward, to a second position wherein substantially one-half of the air stream is deflected forward so the vehicle hovers in a fixed position, and to a third position wherein substantially all of the air stream is deflected forward so the vehicle moves rearward; forward vane means, pivotally mounted to said body member adjacent said inlet of said conduit means, for deflecting a part of the air stream to the atmosphere in either lateral direction; aft vane means pivotally mounted to said body member adjacent said outlet of said conduit means, for deflecting another part of the air stream to the atmosphere in either lateral direction; and second control means, carried by said body member, for positioning said forward and aft vane means to deflect the air stream in the same lateral direction, when said control means has manipulated said air stream deflecting means to the second position, causing the vehicle to move in the opposite lateral direction without forward movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
354 words
An air cushioned vehicle comprising: a body member; a power plant mounted to said body member capable of producing an air stream; means for directing a first portion of the air stream in a substantially downward direction to elevate said body member; conduit means, carried by said body member, for conducting a second portion of the air stream in a substantially horizontal rearward direction, said conduit means having an inlet for directly receiving the second portion of the air stream produced by said power plant, said conduit means additionally having an outlet enabling the air stream entering said inlet to pass through said conduit means and then to exhaust through said outlet to the atmosphere in a substantially rearward direction to propel said body member forward; air stream deflecting means, pivotally coupled to said body member between said inlet and outlet of said conduit means, for deflecting the second portion of the air stream in a substantially horizontal forward direction and to the atmosphere; control means, coupled to said body member, for manipulating said air stream deflecting means to a first position wherein none of the air stream is deflected so the vehicle moves forward, to a second position wherein substantially one-half of the air stream is deflected forward so the vehicle hovers in a fixed position, and to a third position wherein substantially all of the air stream is deflected forward so the vehicle moves rearward; forward vane means, pivotally mounted to said body member adjacent said inlet of said conduit means, for deflecting a part of the air stream to the atmosphere in either lateral direction; aft vane means pivotally mounted to said body member adjacent said outlet of said conduit means, for deflecting another part of the air stream to the atmosphere in either lateral direction; and second control means, carried by said body member, for positioning said forward and aft vane means to deflect the air stream in the same lateral direction, when said control means has manipulated said air stream deflecting means to the second position, causing the vehicle to move in the opposite lateral direction without forward movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 1 wherEin said control means includes a steering column mounted on said body member for longitudinal and rotational movement, means, coupling said steering column and said air stream deflecting means, for manipulating said air stream deflecting means to said three positions upon longitudinal movement of said steering column, and means, coupling said steering column and said fore and aft vane means, for varying the positions of said fore and aft vane means upon rotation of said steering column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said second control means includes a steering column mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said body member; a steering wheel rigidly connected at one end of said steering column; first drum means, rigidly connected to said steering column, for pivoting said forward vane means in lateral directions; arm means, rigidly connected to steering column, for pivoting said aft vane means in lateral directions which are opposite to the lateral directions to which said forward vane means are pivoted; and override means, connected to said body member, for changing the lateral direction to which the aft vane means are pivoted by means of said arm means, to the same direction to which said forward vane means are pivoted by said first drum means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said override means includes a rod pivotally connected to said aft vane means and oriented transversely relative to said body member, a slide member connected for longitudinal movement along a portion of said rod but normally biased into a position midway of said portion; a pair of pedals, pivotally mounted to said body member; and a pair of cables, each connected at one end to one of the pedals and at the other end to one end of said rods, whereby when said arm means pivots said aft vane means in a first lateral direction, depression of one of said pedals causes said rod and said aft vane means to move in the opposite lateral direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said air stream deflecting means includes a left side vane and a right side vane; wherein said conduit means includes a left portion and a right portion, each of these portions conducting substantially one-half of the second portion of the air stream; and wherein said control means is also operative to manipulate one of said vanes so that it deflects substantially all of the air stream conducted thereto in the forward direction and to the atmosphere, and, at the same time, to manipulate the other side vane so that it deflects substantially one-half of the air stream conducted thereto in the forward direction and to the atmosphere, thereby causing the vehicle to move in a rearwards turn in the direction opposite said one of said side vanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said air stream deflecting means further includes a pair of scoops, rigidly mounted to said body member, each having an opening in the forward end thereof and a connection with said conduit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said control means includes a steering column mounted on said body member for longitudinal movement; a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on said body member; a pair of connecting rods, each pivotally connected at one end to one of said bell cranks and pivotally connected at another end to one of said side vanes; and a pair of push and pull cable assemblies, each connected at one end to said steering column and at another end to one of said bell cranks, wherein longitudinal movement of said steering column causes said side vanes to pivot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 7 wherein said control means further includes a pair of pedals pivotally mounted to said body member; a pair of cables, each connected to one of said pedals and passing through a portiOn of one of said bell cranks; a pair of stops, each rigidly connected to a cable; and each of said stops being larger than said portion and therefore cannot pass therethrough, wherein, when said side vanes are in said third position, a depression of one of said pedals causes the stop associated with the cable connected to that pedal to pivot one of said bell cranks to thereby cause one of said side vanes to be pivoted to said second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 1 and further including elevon means, pivotally supported in said conduit means, for varying the orientation of the vehicle along the pitch and roll axes thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 9 wherein said conduit means includes a left portion and a right portion, and said elevon means includes a first elevon supported for pivotal movement around a substantially horizontal axis in said left portion and a second elevon supported for pivotal movement around a substantially horizontal axis in said right portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 10 and further including means for pivoting said first and second elevons simultaneously in the same direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An air cushioned vehicle according to claim 10 and further including means for pivoting said first and second elevons simultaneously in opposite directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |